Display structure



Jan. 19, 1960 J. MCLEAN 2,921,693

DISPLAY STRUCTURE Filed March 3, 1955 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4. MCLEAN 2,921,693

Jan. 19, 1960 DISPLAY STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 3, 1955 United States Patent G DISPLAY STRUCTURE James McLean, Evanston, Ill., assignor to Garden lity Plating & Manufacturing Co., a corporation of Illinois Application March 3, 1955, Serial No. 491,996

7 Claims. (Cl. 211-136) This invention relates to a display structure and is particularly concerned with the mounting of bracket supports in connection with panels in side by side relationship with a narrow opening between the panels for, insertion of brackets between juxtaposed side walls of adjacent panels.

The panels may be parallel to an adjacent wall or may be arranged in the center of a'room so that brackets may project from both faces of the panel structure. A bracket support suitable for incorporation into the display structure of the present invention is disclosed in the copending application of Albert Braviak, Serial No. 355,057, led May l4, 1953. The bracket supports are in the form of elongated, relatively thin at metal strips of generally rectangular form.

The front wall of the bracket support is interrupted by a series of vertically spaced apertures each of which opens into a re-entrant slot of generally hook-shape. In the position in which the bracket support is held between the side walls of adjacent panels the slots extend upwardly, and the lower wall of each slot sweeps rearwardly `and upwardly, in a continuous curve from the front wall. The rear portion of each bracket is provided with a single, hook-shaped projection corresponding insize and shape to the `slots in the bracket support. The lower curved well of each slot `and the complementary character of the slot of the support and the projection of the bracket enables the projection to be inserted into the slot by a simple pivotal movement from the front of the display structure, to interlock the bracket with the bracket support.

in accordance with the present invention a pair of thin metal casings positioned adjacent opposite sides of a bracket. support `are secured together by means of rivet-s or studs which pass through apertures provided therefor in the bracket support to hold the bracket support in upright position. The bracket supports are flat andeach wall is engaged by one side of one casing. The sides of the casings not only support the bracket support but portions of them abut the brackets through the open sides of the slots in the bracket support and give the necessary lateral stability to the brackets which are removably engaged in the slots.

The thin metal casings are reinforced with vertical ribs and may be supported by brackets secured to furring or byv suitable uprigbts. The casings may additionally be supported by brackets fixed to the door, and to the ceiling, if the casings extend to the ceiling. The sides of the' foremost ribs serve as Va base against which the back side of the panelsV yare positioned and, accordingly, the panels completely conceal the reinforcing ribs and. the, supporting means for the casings. A plurality of retainers hold the panels against accidental displacement in the forward direction.

The structure by which the above and other advantages of the invention-are attained will be described in the following specification, takenin conjunction with the accom- 2,921,693 Patented Jan. 19, 1960 ICC panying drawings showing a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a display structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the display structure showingthe casings secured to furring, with some of the panel structure omitted to show the supporting structure;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a pair of metal casings holding a bracket support in upright position, with portions broken away to facilitate the illus- 1 tration;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View, taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the bracket for holding the metal casing against displacement;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of a bracket support of the type held by the metal casing;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of a bracket of the type mounted in the bracket support;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view of display structure for use in the center of a room and having a pair of bracket supports facing in opposite directions;

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional View, taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12.V is a fragmentary perspective view showing the use of a retainer to hold a panel in place; and

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view showing the retainer and a different style of panel.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a-display structure unit comprising ya bracket support 3 4and apair of thin metal casings 4 and 5 secured to opposite sides of the bracketV supportby rivets 6.V The bracket support has a plurality of vertically spaced hookshaped slots 7 extending rearwardly from its front edge for reception ofv individual brackets 8, andrapertures 9- for the rivets 6. Bracket support 3 isalso provided with apertures 10 to permit passage of screws or other fastening elements to facilitate securement of the unit to supporting structure.

Casings 4 and 5 are essentially alike, and only one will be described in detail. Each casing comprises aV thin metal sheet having vertical ribs 11V and 12 spaced a-predetermineddistance from opposite edges. The verticalribs serve to reinforce or stilen the'metalV casings and also serve as a backing to position a panel 0r panels 13 in predetermined position relative to the front edge of bracket support 3. Accordingly, the outer side wall 14 of rib. 11 and .the outer side wall 15 of rib 12 extend at right angles tothe verticalplane ofbracket support 3. The` casings are also provided with an intermediate rib 16 to provide added rigidity. Each reinforcing rib is directly opposite and faces the corresponding rib on the other casing. Ribs 16 are aligned with apertures ltlandV are provided with' apertures 17 registering therewith so that the same fastening element may pass through all three apertures when the unit is to be set up. Rivets 6 pass through sections of casings 4 and 5 juxtaposed against opposite sides of bracket support 3 between the reinforcing ribs to secure the casings to the bracket support. The forward edges of casings 4 and 5 are bent rearwardly, as indicated at 18, to provide a smooth front edge so that the rear end of bracketS may be easily inserted between the `casings to engage one of the slots 7. The doubled edges V18 also reinforce `the front end of the casings so they will not be distorted before the panels are inserted into position. Therear edge of casing 4 extends at rightanglesV in contactl with thef rear edge ofrbracket rsupport-V rigidly in proper position.

Y3, as indicated at 19, but the corresponding edge of casingY 5 is cutoff.

The set-up operation for the display structure is simple. Furring 20 is secured to a wall 21 in any suitable manner. Brackets 22 are secured to the furring in vertical alignment. A bracket 22 isV also 'secured to the iloor with one leg 23 extending vertically in alignment with the brackets secured to the furring. A unit 2 is then positioned vertically' with the ribs of one casing abutting the legs 23 of'each of the brackets. If the wall is not level, unit 2 may be adjusted to make it perfectly straight in the vertical direction. If the oor is not level, unit 2 may be adjustedvertically so that the units will be at uniform height. Fastening elements, such as screws, are

theninserted through slot'24 in the bracket and aperturesV and 17 which are aligned therewith. A nut is then tightened on the free end of the screw to hold the unit If desired, a bracket 22 may be used on both sides of the unit.

If the units are Vsupported by uprights, an upright is placed in Vertical position and the unit is positioned adjacent one side of the upright. The fastening elements passing through apertures 17 and 10 may be secured by screwing them into the upright. If thin metal uprights are used they are apertured in alignment with apertures 17 and 1G and the fastening elements may be secured by nuts threaded on the free ends thereof.

After a pair of units 2 is secured in proper position, a panel 13 may be positioned between two adjacent units. Panel 13 is pushed rearwardly until its vertical edges abut yfront side 14 of rib 11 of the casing 4 of one unit and the front side 14 of the rib 11 of the casing 5 of the adjacent unit. When two adjacent panels 13 have been positioned they may be secured in place by retainers 25. As shown in Fig. 12, each retainer 25 comprises a flat plate 26 shaped in the same configuration `as the rear end of bracket 8 to t in slot 7. The front end 27 of plate 26 terminates a short distance forwardly of the front surface of panel 13. The upper edge 28 of plate 26 is provided With a recess in which a stud 29 is secured. Stud 29 comprises a reduced neck portion 30 fitting into the recess and two enlarged ends 31 and 32 which project laterally on opposite sides of plate 26. Each of the ends 31 and 32 abuts the front surface of one of a pair of adjacent panels 13 to prevent forward displacement thereof. When one of the panels 13 is to be removed, retainer 25 is removed by lifting the front end upwardly and sliding plate 26 out of slot 7 in the same vmanner that brackets 8 vare removed from the bracket support. Retainers 25 are preferably used adjacent the upper and lower ends of each panel, but the number used may vary, depending upon the size of the panels. j

After the panels are secured in place, brackets 8 may be positioned in slots 7 to support shelves 33, as shown in Fig. 1or any other articles, such as clothes rods, common to display structures of the type with which the present invention is concerned. If desired, a base board structure 34, and `a top cornice 3S may be provided to enhance the appearance of the display structure.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. Yl0 and l1 is similar to the embodiment previously described except that unit 2' includes a pair of bracket supports 36 and 37 which are mounted in juxtaposed position between metal casings 38 and 39. Rivets 6 are longer to extend through two bracket supports, and the length of the panel retainers is also increased a distance equal to the thickness of one bracket support. Bracket supports 36 and 37 are duplicates of bracket support 3. However, bracket support 37 is reversed and is oset forwardly of bracket supportr36, so that brackets supported by member 37 will project outwardly in the opposite direction to those supported by member 36. Casing 38V is a duplicate of casing 4 and its relationship to bracket support 36 is the same as that of casing 4 to bracket support 3.

Casing 39 is a duplicate of casing 38 except that it is reversed. Casings 38 and39 are secured to the bracket supports and to uprights in the same manner as described for casings 4 and 5. Since this unit is particularly designed for use in the center of a store or show room, it would not normally be secured to furring.

The structure shown in Fig. 13 is essentially the same as that of Fig. l2 except that the panels 40 are thicker than panels 13. The rear edge of each panel is recessed, as indicated at 41, so that the panels may be secured between units 2 in the same manner as panels 13.

While i have described a few preferred embodiments of my invention in detail, itrwill be understood that the description thereof is illustrative rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be destricted to the exact structure described.

I claim:

l. A display structure unit comprising a pair of thin metal casings disposed vertically in parallel spaced relationship, each of said casings having oppositely disposed vertical reinforcing ribs integral therewith, a at bracket support disposed vertically in a plane parallel to the planes of said casings, said bracket support being interposed between said casings and rigidly secured thereto, said bracket support having bracket receiving slots extending inwardly from its front edge, the foremost rib of each casing having one side wall extending at right angles to the vertical plane of said bracket support in a plane spaced rearwardly of the front edges of said casings, and a pair of panels, each of said panels having one vertical edgeV juxtaposed against one of said side walls, each of said side walls forming a backing support for one edge of one of said panels to facilitate positioning it with its front surface flush with the front edge of said casing.

2. A display structure unit comprising a pair of thin metal casings disposed vertically in parallel spaced relationship, each of said casings having oppositely disposed vertical reinforcing ribs integral therewith, a flat bracket support disposed vertically in a plane parallel to the planes of said casings, said bracket support being interposed between said casings and rigidly secured thereto, said bracket support having bracket receiving slots extending inwardly from its front edge, the foremost rib of each casing having one side wall extending at right angles to the vertical plane of said bracket support, each of said casings extending forwardly of said rib at right angles thereto, a pair of panels each having one vertical edge juxtaposed against one of said side walls and the adjacent forwardly extending portion of the casing, and a retainermounted in one of said bracket receiving slots, said retainer engaging both of said panels to hold them against said casings.

3. A display structure comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertically disposed structural units, each of said units comprising a pair of thin metal casings with a at bracket support interposed therebetween, said bracket support being disposed vertically in a plane parallel to the planes of said casings, each of said casings having an integral vertical reinforcing rib having a side wall spaced rearwardly of the front edge of its casing, said side walls extending at right angles to the vertical plane of said bracket supports, a panel positioned between said units with its opposite vertical edges each juxtaposed against one of said side walls and the adjacent forwardly extending portion of the casing, said bracket support having ports being juxtaposed in side by side relationship and eachV having bracket receiving slots extending inwardly from its front edge, the front edges of said bracket supports being oppositely disposed. g

5. A display structure unit comprising a pair of thin metal casings, each of said casings having oppositely disposed vertically extending reinforcing ribs integral therewith, and a pair of bracket supports interposed between said casings and rigidly secured thereto, said bracket supports being juxtaposed in side by side relationship and each having bracket receiving slots extending inwardly from its front edge, the front edges of said bracket supports being oppositely disposed and offset relative to the rear edge of the other.

6. A display structure unit comprising a pair of thin metal casings disposed vertically in parallel spaced relationship, each of said casings having a plurality of vertically disposed integral reinforcing ribs extending outwardly therefrom intermediate its front and rear edges, and a flat bracket support disposed vertically in a plane parallel to the planes of said casings and positioned between said casings, portions of each of said casings between said reinforcing ribs being flat and engaging opposite sides of said at bracket support to provide lateral stability therefor, said support having a thickness equal to the spacing between said metal casings and having bracket receiving slots extending inwardly from its front edge, said casings and bracket support being secured together to form a unitary structure.

7. A display structure unit comprising a pair of thin metal casings disposed vertically in parallel spaced relationship, each of said casings having oppositely disposed Vertical reinforcing ribs integral therewith, the reinforcing ribs of each of said casings being aligned with the reinforcing ribs of the other casing, and a at bracket support disposed vertically in a plane parallel to the planes of said casings, said bracket support being interposed between said casings and rigidly secured thereto, said bracket support having bracket receiving slots extending inwardly from its front edge, portions of each of said casings between said reinforcing ribs being flat, said at portions of the casings engaging opposite sides of said iiat bracket supportin juxtaposition to said bracket receiving slots to provide additional lateral stability for the bracket support and for brackets mounted in said bracket receiving slots, said bracket support and said casings having aligned apertures to facilitate securement of said unit to a supporting member.

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